*Doing the Donald in 2010* Jan. Half Marathon Support Thread!

[luvsTink]

Congrats everyone on your increasingly long runs! I have been worried about getting in the long runs here in the garden state of Iowa.....last night we got over 14 inches of snow and we have 60 mph winds. A blizzard.....and NOT blizzard beach! I have located a 300 meter indoor track however! I now have to get a student to go with me to get me in to use it at Iowa State University, but I think this is my only option. We have a 1/12 mile track inside at our Y, however, when I had knee surgury this summer my doc told be to NEVER use it...the constant turning is hard on the knee. Wish me luck in getting in at the indoor track on Saturday!

Anne

 

[cewait]

Congrats everyone on your increasingly long runs! I have been worried about getting in the long runs here in the garden state of Iowa.....last night we got over 14 inches of snow and we have 60 mph winds. A blizzard.....and NOT blizzard beach! I have located a 300 meter indoor track however! I now have to get a student to go with me to get me in to use it at Iowa State University, but I think this is my only option. We have a 1/12 mile track inside at our Y, however, when I had knee surgury this summer my doc told be to NEVER use it...the constant turning is hard on the knee. Wish me luck in getting in at the indoor track on Saturday!

Anne

Not sure what you scheduled miles are this weekend, but I think I would attempt a dreadmill run before an indoor track. Even on the 300 meter track a 10 mile run would be 50 laps. Plus the corners are more than likely a little more severe than an outdoor track. If you do take on the ISU track see if you can alternate directions. 5 laps counter, 5 laps clockwise and so on. It may take you to the very outter lane for the reverse but you knee and legs will appreciate the reversing.

If you decide on the dreadmill, set the elevation on2% to simulate wind resistance.

Good luck. I am glad that our 'snow' was only 3" and only lasted a night.

 

[CampbellScot]

Congrats everyone on your increasingly long runs! I have been worried about getting in the long runs here in the garden state of Iowa.....last night we got over 14 inches of snow and we have 60 mph winds. A blizzard.....and NOT blizzard beach! I have located a 300 meter indoor track however! I now have to get a student to go with me to get me in to use it at Iowa State University, but I think this is my only option. We have a 1/12 mile track inside at our Y, however, when I had knee surgury this summer my doc told be to NEVER use it...the constant turning is hard on the knee. Wish me luck in getting in at the indoor track on Saturday!

Anne

My doctor told me the same thing!! We have a teeny indoor track at our Gold's Gym....but the constant corners were really causing me grief with my torn meniscus. So that track is a no no. It is the dreadmill for me. My husband says he feels like a hamster on a wheel on that thing...but it's nicer to my knees.

 

[luvsTink]

dreadmill....certainly the perfect name! I don't think they will let us change directions on the track. If I do the dreadmill I am pretty sure that will be the longest 2.5 hours of my life. maybe I should get some snow shoes and give outside another try. Or maybe I should just fly to vegas for the weekend!

Anne

 

[french lady]

Today was back to work after 4 days off and it was pretty quiet because of the weather. We were expecting beyween 6-12" but I think the total will be closer to 3-4". I did play with my snowblower . But it is very windy tonight and it will make the walk with the dogs interesting.

It seems that training is going pretty well for everybody and 28 days left before the fun .

Diane

 

[sk8ingmom]

One month to go!
I am seriously avoiding the treadmill. Weather calls for cold and wet, plus I have a 7 am meeting in the morning. Looks like I'll be running around the rink during DS11's hockey practice tomorrow. Sigh.

 

[heatherlynn444]

just wanted to pop on and say hi! I have been lurking. My DH and I are running this as our first half, then we are doing another on (new orleans rock n roll) in feb. are we crazy? yes! but we are so excited!

 

[Ronda93]

I've given in. The treadmill it is. I've done well to make it to mid-December. I like to run early and today it was 2*. I did see one hardy soul running along my normal route as I drove to work. Brrrr. Saturday is just six. I have my fingers crossed that next Saturday's 10 can be outside.

Ronda

 

[mla1977]

So I just typed a whole response and lost it somehow. I think I was clicking the back arrows or something...

Anyways, I'll be at the gym tonight. Probably on the dreadmill, but I have the option of an indoor track. It is 16 laps to a mile though, so I'm not sure which I'll be doing. We'll see what space is available when I get there.

 

[Quiksilvr]

I am running the half in January as well. I wish I had found this thread when I signed up for the race early this year. It will be my first half marathon. I've been using the Galloway program.

My long run is up to 13, and I'm keeping a 12-13 min/mile pace.

Reading through this thread is the first I've heard of the sweeping. How does that work?

 

[Ronda93]

It's my first half also.

Sweeping - they require you to maintain a 16 minute per mile pace. If you fall behind that your are "swept". You leave the course and board a bus. Others know the precision of it, but I think time starts when the last group gets started. If you're near the back you'll know it. CMs will let you know you're in danger of being swept. If you maintain your 12-13 min pace, you'll be fine.

I'm using a run/walk, too, and have been staying around 12 lately. I want to stop and take pictures so badly, but know that's where trouble can start.

Today was six miles. Again with the treadmill. Sigh. Looking at the forecast I'm going to have to shift something to get back outside. Either run mid morning to take advantage of the sun or change days. I'm not scheduled to run again until Tuesday.

Ronda

 

[ultramickeymouse]

Ronda: You are correct.

A few additions are that the 16 min pace starts when the last runner crosses the start line(not the last group of wave starting). Cyclists will put Orange flags on the mile markers when the pace is above the 16 min pace. This means if you reach a mile marker with an Orange flag, you can be picked up at anytime.

If you start in wave 2(or probably 3 this year if they have 4 waves which is anticipated), you will pickup an additional 10 or 20 minutes above cut pace. This will easily give you extra photo op time.

See you in 4 weeks today

 

[dismagiclover]

Hi everyone! I was brave today and went for a run in the cold. It was in the 20s when I started and into the 30s by the time I finished. That is the coldest I've ever run in, but it wasn't too bad. I guess I'm tougher than I thought Anyway it was a 10 miler and I did it in 1:55:31. I can't believe the race is 4 weeks from today! I only have 2 more long runs on the schedule Can't wait!

Can't wait to hear everyone else's reports from this weekend.

 

[cewait]

It's my first half also.


I'm using a run/walk, too, and have been staying around 12 lately. I want to stop and take pictures so badly, but know that's where trouble can start.

Ronda

If you are a solid 12 minute pace take all the photos you want. I would estimate that it takes 30-45 seconds to get a posed character photo (The exception would be Captain Jack). Do the math at 45 seconds you will get 4 photos in 3 minutes time off course. You are beeting the clock at a rate of 4 minutes per mile. To get through mile seven just after MK in front of the sweep (and not stopping for anything else) you have the opportunity for at least 36-40 photos. Not sure if one (other than Robert) can take that many in 7 miles (actually one mile in MK)

Enjoy yourself on Race Day; keep aware of the clock and you will do great.

 

[CampbellScot]

I am running the half in January as well. I wish I had found this thread when I signed up for the race early this year. It will be my first half marathon. I've been using the Galloway program.

My long run is up to 13, and I'm keeping a 12-13 min/mile pace.

Reading through this thread is the first I've heard of the sweeping. How does that work?

I'm also doing the Galloway program, also around a 12 min/mile pace. I have to remember if I stick to the program, do the breaks before I need them...I'll have the gas to finish with a decent time and not worry about getting swept. I will admit that the very idea of getting swept makes me ill. I have a torn meniscus that has been giving me a little bit of trouble. I really want to finish. My physical therapist says I should be okay....but I have been having nightmares about those orange flags!

 

[JoanneNC]

Thanks to a surprise early Christmas gift, I ran my 1st ever Half Marathon yesterday - Thunder Road 1/2 marathon in Charlotte NC... He knew I was nervous about my pacing and how I would feel afterward and how much I wanted to make sure I enjoyed the hours after the Disney 1/2 with my family. So he figured a surprise race with no time to panic would do me wonders and it sure did. I was scheduled to run 12miles anyway this week, so what's 1.1 more miles

I treated it like a long slow run and finished in 2:16 unofficially. I am still awaiting the official results as they have everyone's chip time matching gun time and this back of the pack starter wants the 3-4 minutes it took me to cross the start subtracted. So for now, my Garmin is my time..

Now I can concentrate these next few weeks working on how to have my best 13.1 miles rather than worrying about how they will feel..

 

[Ronda93]

Oh my gosh! That would be a shock! Great work and great time! Now it will be easy.
Woo-hoo!

Ronda

 

[cewait]

Way to go. You now have the experience under your belt so 1-9-10 will not be so disorienting.

You are 10 min in front of the middle of the race.... Make sure to bring a copy of these results to the expo and seed yourself a little better. You will appreciate getting out a little quicker.

Great Job

 

[JoanneNC]

Way to go. You now have the experience under your belt so 1-9-10 will not be so disorienting.

You are 10 min in front of the middle of the race.... Make sure to bring a copy of these results to the expo and seed yourself a little better. You will appreciate getting out a little quicker.

Great Job

Thanks - I believe I currently have a 2:45 expected finish from an Aug 10k race.

 

[french lady]

Good snowy evening,
Yes it is snowing again here at the border between the U.S.A. and Canada: at least 3" and more coming.
After 4 days of procrastinating, I went for a nice 5 miles run this morning and it was so beautiful: sunny, no wind and 15F. And it went without problems.
Tomorrow is a 4 miles hoping the roads will be ok.

Diane